1 My grandson

I didn’t think I’d ever be a grandmother as none of my children looked like they were going to start a family. Then Nicholai and his wife, Alison, surprised me and I now have a wonderful three-year-old grandson, Cash. He calls me “Farmor”, which is Swedish for a paternal grandmother, and I have been very involved with his life ever since he was born.

When he was a baby I used to sing, very badly, to him in Swedish and I’d chat away to him about everything that was around us.

Cash is the smartest and most interesting person I know and I still go to see him every Sunday, unless I’m away in which case we FaceTime.

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2 Friends

I have friends in wonderful places across the world and it is always a pleasure to catch up with them.

However I don’t take friendships for granted, as each one is like a mini marriage and you really do have to work hard at them.

Lord Snowdon once told me that friendship has no boundaries and if there’s a connection it doesn’t matter how often you see each other as you’ll always be friends.

I met my best friend at drama school when I was 17 and sometimes we don’t see each other for a couple of years but we always pick up where we left off.

I have known some of my friends in Los Angeles for 30 years and even if we don’t see each other, we still keep in touch by email or text. I am lucky because as much as I enjoy socialising, I am also very happy in my own company.

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The actress believes Swedish sunsets are among the most beautiful on earth

3 CDs

I grew up secretly listening to Radio Luxembourg under the covers in bed at night and since then music has been a lifelong passion of mine.

At my home in Sweden, I have the most incredible collection of CDs and nothing gives me more pleasure than putting on one of my favourites – anything from Beethoven to Miles Davis or rockabilly.

My son Nicholai keeps telling me to use Spotify on my iPhone but he is from a different generation and doesn’t understand the joy of opening up a CD case.

4 Holiday home

I have had my house in Sweden for more than 40 years and it is such a beautiful place. I have my own seafront with a jetty and a boat and when I sit in my living room I can see the ocean, which is calming.

Living a busy life in LA means I don’t get back as often as I would like but Tequila (my dog) and I spent a few weeks there recently and it was wonderful. There is nowhere quite as beautiful as Sweden in the summer as the long, light nights are amazing.

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Britt Ekland with her beloved chihuahua, Tequila

5 Tequila

I am not talking about the drink but my beloved little Chihuahua who goes by the same name as the Mexican beverage.

Tequila is more than a pet to me, as he partners me in my one-woman show. Although now 14, which is old in dog years, he is amazing as he can enter and exit the stage on cue and he isn’t in the slightest bit ruffled by loud music. I never go anywhere without him and he loves my friends almost as much as I do.

Britt Ekland is a patron of the Alzheimer’s Society and is supporting this year’s Memory Walk. The 31 walks are taking place throughout September and October. Visit memorywalk.org.uk to sign up. Interview by LUCY BENYON